Sabasports Match Preview
Europa League: West Ham United vs Freiburg
Kickoff Time: 2024-03-15 01:45(HKT)
Source:REUTERS/TONY OBRIEN
In the Premier League last weekend, West Ham United played a 2-2 draw
against Burnley at home. Over the past four games, they have recorded two wins,
one draw, and one loss, which shows a decent overall performance. The return of
injured players has significantly improved West Ham’s overall condition. West
Ham typically employ a 4-2-3-1 formation. Their offensive strategy often
involves launching long passes and allowing the forward players to deliver the
final shot. Defensively, they utilize high-pressing tactics, putting pressure
on the opposing defenders, cutting off passing lanes, and aiming to force
turnovers. Notably, West Ham have been particularly effective at grabbing
points when playing at home. In their last 10 home games, they have secured
four wins, five draws, and suffered only one loss, which was against Arsenal.
This demonstrates their strong home performance, which should not be
underestimated.
In the last round of the Bundesliga, Freiburg secured a 2-1 victory
over Bochum in an away game. This win comes after two consecutive losses in all
competitions, indicating an improvement in their form. Freiburg typically
deploy a 4-2-2-2 formation. Their aggressive pressing in the forward areas
often puts significant pressure on their opponents, and they are particularly
dangerous during set-piece situations. However, it is worth noting that
Freiburg’s defensive performance has suffered a decline this season. They have
conceded a total of 45 goals in the league so far, surpassing their total
number of goals conceded from the previous season. This indicates a
vulnerability in their defensive structure. Furthermore, Freiburg have
struggled with their away record recently. In their last seven away games
(official matches), they have managed only one win, one draw, and five losses.
This suggests a weakness in their away performances. The upcoming series of
away matches will pose a significant physical challenge for Freiburg.
Despite Freiburg’s 1-0 victory over West Ham in the first leg, it can
be argued that they didn’t have a clear advantage on the field. Some may argue
that without the referee’s decisions in their favor, maintaining the victory
would have been challenging. West Ham hold a higher overall strength and
reputation compared to Freiburg, as evidenced by their dominant performance in previous
group matches. This gives West Ham a psychological advantage. Additionally,
considering the performance gap between the two teams at home and away, it is
expected that West Ham, known for their strong home performances, will stage a
comeback.
West Ham United’s Last 5 Games: DLWWL
24-03-10 West Ham United 2-2 Burnley
24-03-08 Freiburg 1-0 West Ham United
24-03-02 Everton 1-3 West Ham United
24-02-27 West Ham United 4-2 Brentford
24-02-17 Nottingham Forest 2-0 West Ham United
Freiburg’s Last 5 Games: WWDLD
24-03-10 Bochum 1-2 Freiburg
24-03-08 Freiburg 1-0 West Ham United
24-03-02 Freiburg 2-2 Bayern Munich
24-02-26 Augsburg 2-1 Freiburg
24-02-23 Freiburg 2-2 Lens (AET 3-2)
Head To Head Record:
24-03-08 Freiburg 1-0 West Ham United
23-12-15 West Ham United 2-0 Freiburg
23-10-06 Freiburg 1-2 West Ham United
Prediction: West Ham United to
win